The Parliamentary Secretary, with responsibility for tourism, Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie, has made the point that while persons in other places are anxious for the COVID-19 vaccine, it is a very sad reality that Anguilla has to throw away three thousand vials.
Speaking during the Government’s press conference on Monday, June 21, she observed: “While we would like to thank the 9,248 persons who would have received their first dose, and 6,292 persons who would have received their second dose, there are still about 1,300 persons who would not have received their first dose and, as a result, we have just about three thousand vials of vaccine going to waste.
“We are in a world where persons are dying because of [no] access – who are looking around desperately for vaccines and we are in a position where we are throwing out vaccines. It is a very sad reality. And I would like to take this opportunity to encourage persons to get your vaccine. If you vaccinate from today, onwards, you will not be guaranteed a second dose but you would still have a certain level of protection because the vaccines will expire on or around July 31st. But you can still have your first dose – and we are working overtime to find more vaccines and this means that you may possibly even get your second dose in time if we are successful. But it is better to have the first dose than having none at all.”
The Parliamentary Secretary further stated: “There are persons who believe that natural medicine will save them or protect them from the COVID -19. It will not. There are persons who believe that if they just stay in their homes and stay out of large gatherings it will protect them from COVID-19. It will not. It just takes a very small interaction – just like the common cold – to contract COVID-19. So we have to be in a position where we protect ourselves with options that truly work.”
